Henry howard



Dec. 15,1925. 1,565,367

H. HOWARD ELECT-sommo PROcEss FOR THE PRODUCTION OFOOPPEROAHBONATE Filed Aug. 29. 1924 Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

' UNITED STATES APATENT oFFlcE.

HENRY HOWARD, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNO-R T0 TI-IE GRASSELLI CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF O'HIO.

ELECTROLYTIC PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF COPPER CARBONATE.

\ Appncauon mea August 29, 1924. seria'i No. 735.023.

To all whom t may concern:

Be ,it known that I, HENRY HOWARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of'Cuyahoga and State of Ohio', have invented certain new and usefulc Improvements in Electrolytic Processes for the Production of Copper Carbonate, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an electrolytic process for the production of copper carbonate.

In an application filed March 24, 1924, Serial Number 701,507, in the name of Frederick F. Hunt, i's described a process for the production of cop erA carbonate involving the electrolysis o a solution containing a carbon dioxid `supplying agent,

specifically sodium bicarbonate, and an elec trolyte, specifically sodium sulfate, using anodes of copper and cathodes of any suitable material enclosed in diaphragms, the carbonation of the electrolyzed solution to regenerate the sodium bicarbonate, the separation of copper carbonate from the solution, and the re-use yof the solution in a cyclical manner.

In the course of research 1n this connec- -f tion I have found that salts other than sodiout, so far as I have found, any oil-setting disadvanta es.

In the ollowing description of a pre- A ferred procedure in accordance with my invention reference is made to the accompanying drawing on which the essential parts of 'the apparatus and the movement of the materials are indicated diagrammatically and by means of legends.

A solution, containing 80 grams of sodium bicarbonate and 220 grams of sodium chlorate in 5000 cubicfcentimeters of water lturned to the cell.

cloth, and through a suitable device such as a filter or settling tank for4 the removal of copper carbonate and back to the electrolytic cell. In the cell the solution is subjected vto electrolysis, using a current density of about *11.5 amperes per square foot of anode surface, and to carbonation by the introduction of carbon dioXid gas. The solution in the electrolytic cell may be at about room tem-y perature, say 2'0" to 100 F. Outside the cell the solution is separated from co per carbonate, for instance by filtration, an re- The rate of circulation of the solution must be suiicient to carry the copper carbonate formed andheld in suspension out of the cell. This depends to some extent upon the size and shape of the cell and may be assisted by agitation of the electrolyte within the cell to prevent the copper carbonate from settling. The rate at which carbon dioxid is supplied depends of course upon the rate at which it is used in the formation of the copper carbonate. It is preferred to supply an ,excess of carbon dioxid and to introduce it into the cell near the bottom thereof in order to produce agitation, the undissolved carbon dioxid being recovered and re-introduced along with thel titles of bicarbonate and chlorate, current f density, temperature, etc., without departing from my invention. The carbonatlon may be accomplished otherwise than` by the introduction of carbon dioxid directly into the solution in the electrolytic cell during the electrolysis. For instance, the solution may be electrolyzed for a period and then the passage of current stopped and carbon dioxid introduced, these two operations being repeated alternately and successively or a small portion of the solution may be continuously circulated from. the cell through a carbonator and back intothe cell, while another ortion is being withdrawn fromlthe cell, ltered and returned to the cell.

The invention therefore is not limited to the specific procedure described but includes such obvious variations thereof as are embraced by the appended claims.

I claim l 1. Process for the electrolytic production of copper carbonate comprising subjecting a solution containing a carbon dioXid supplying agent and an electrolyte to electrolytic action in the resence of a copper anode, carbonating sald solution during the electrolysis thereof, and removing copper carbonate from the electrolyzed solutlon.

Q. Process for the electrolytic production of copper carbonate comprising subjecting a solution containing a soluble bicarbonate l and an alkali metal chlorate` t0 electrolysis in the presence of a copper anode, carbonating the solution, and removing copper carbonate therefrom.

3. Process for the electrolytic production of copper carbonate comprising subjecting a solution containing sodium bicarbonate and sodium chlorate to simultaneous carbonation and electrolysis in the presence of a copper anode, and separating copper carbonate from the solution.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

HENRY HOWARD. 

